Worship program of 14 goddesses in Agartala, Tripura – Kharchi Puja

Temple of the 14 gods

History of Kharchi Puja Tripura

Legends say that Kharchi Puja is a way to purify our mother earth. Ama Pechi, the time before this puja, is considered to be the menstrual period of the mother goddess. Therefore, during this time, the soil is neither dug nor plowed.

Menstruation has long been considered unholy among the Tripurais, which is why women are not allowed to perform all important tasks and duties during this time. During menstruation / ama pechi, the earth is also considered unclean and unclean. To purify the time after the earth, Kharchi Puja is performed.

With the onset of the centuries-old Kharchi Puja, thousands of people from Tripura circle the Chaturdash Devta Temple (Temple of the 14 Goddess) in the old town of Agartala, 8 km from the capital Agartala, during the week with his goddess. Worship the goddess. Festival.

Perform rituals on 14 deities – Kharchi Puja

Why is Kharchi Puja performed?

The word „Kharchi” is derived from two different words – „Khar” means sin and „Chi” means cleanliness. Collectively, this means the cleansing of sins committed by people.

Kharchi puja is a Worship program This is done at Chaturdash Devta Temple 15 days after Ambubachi. The ritual begins after ‘the Raj Chantai’ (high priest) and his fellow priests have brought the 14 deities to a river, which is followed by a bath in holy water. The deities are then brought into the temple, adorned with flowers and vermilion on their foreheads.

The 14 deities are Shiva, Durga, Vishnu, Lakshmi, Vani or Saraswati, Kumar or Kartikeya, Ganati or Ganesh, Brahma, Prithvi, Abdi or Samundra, Ganga, Sikh or Agni, Kamadeva and Himadri.

Rituals are performed during Kharchi Puja

It is known that Kharchi Puja began in 1760 AD. It was celebrated by the then Maharaja Krishna Manikya Bahadur and since then this festival has been celebrated by the public.

„Chaturdash Devata” means 14 deities. Among them, three deities are worshiped throughout the year, namely Mahadev, Durga and Narayana. The other 11 deities are placed in the armpit. He is worshiped with only three deities during these seven days of the festival.

In the past, the Kharchi Puja Mela (fair) was organized on a small scale, but the infrastructure has largely developed these days. The number of stands set up at the fair has increased and the number of visitors has also increased over the years.

During the time of this auspicious event

The staff who run a pera (dessert shop) shop near the event are mostly third or fourth generation of the family who have been selling sweets for 50 years.

The fair is organized every year during the Kharchi Puja

After understanding, they earn around 500 to 700 rupees per day. However, during the festival, the demand is very high and their income increases from 3,000 to 5,000 rupees. The demand is so high that sometimes they also get supplies from Udaipur pera makers and during the festival all shopkeepers here spend more than 30 rupees to make pera on their own.

Many video surveillance devices are installed in and around the temple for safety and convenience of people. In addition, 150 Tripura State Rifles (TSR) jaws as well as 150 Boy Scout boys and girls, as well as civil security guards and local volunteers, are closely watching during the festival.

Main attractions of Kharchi Puja 2020

3. Cultural program: Cultural programs are organized in the evenings throughout the 7 days of Kharchi Puja. A fair will also be organized to commemorate the occasion.

4. Animal sacrifice: An important part of kharchi worship is the sacrifice of animals or birds such as pigeons and goats.

5th public holiday: The indigenous people of Tripura also receive a public holiday. However, it is only given for one day. Another popular festival of Keri Puja is celebrated two weeks after Khachi Puja.